Surfside rescue efforts suspended ahead of demolition

Rescue efforts for bodies missing after the collapse of a residential condo building in Surfside, Fla., have been suspended Saturday as officials prepare for the demolition of the rest of the building. 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine (D) said that efforts were halted around 4 p.m. EDT as authorities prepare to demolish the standing structure ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa, which is expected to make landfall within days.  

Preparations include activities like drilling into columns in the unsafe structure of the standing building, she said.  

“It has been determined by our engineers and our fire department in constant communication with the demolition team as the process is underway, that we need to put a temporary pause,” Cava said. 

“We will begin the search and rescue once again on any sections of the pile that are safe to access as soon as we are cleared,” she said.  

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said earlier on Saturday that the building could be demolished within 36 hours amid safety concerns sparked by the storm.  

Cava said she was “hopeful,” that the building would be demolished ahead of Elsa, but authorities don’t have a “definite time” for when the demolition will take place. 

The death toll of the condo collapse still sits at 24, but 191 people have now been accounted for, up from 188 reported earlier on Saturday. Meanwhile, 121 people are still unaccounted for.  

Rescue efforts were previously halted on Thursday amid concerns that the rest of the building would collapse. But authorities were able to resume efforts later in the day with limited access to the site. 

Updated 6:56 p.m.